MANILA, Nov 13 — The Philippines, serving as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, aims to adopt several outcome documents by the end of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, including additional measures on energy and food security and transboundary haze.
The Philippine News Agency reported that foreign affairs ministers are set to meet tomorrow for the ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, to be followed by the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings of world leaders at the Philippine International Convention Centre in Pasay City from Sunday (November 15) to Tuesday (November 17).
On transboundary haze, Foreign Affairs Spokesman for ASEAN Affairs Dax Imperial said foreign ministers will first identify possible measures and elevate the recommendations to the leaders’ level.
In September, widespread forest fires in Indonesia triggered severe haze that reached several Southeast Asian states, including the Philippines, leading to poor air quality that prompted authorities to suspend classes.
“I am unable to preempt the discussions because the decision to identify the measures will, of course, lie really on the discussions of the foreign ministers and, eventually, the leaders. But there is awareness and also commitment among ASEAN to address this issue,” he said during a media conference at the International Media Centre in Pasay City.
Beyond this, the summit week will cover transnational crime and online scams, where leaders will develop new measures to protect migrant workers in the region.
The leaders will also call on their colleagues to “hasten the process” of ratifying the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security, or APSA, which aims to facilitate coordinated emergency fuel sharing within the region.
“The Philippines was the first to ratify that as a sign of our commitment. I understand at the moment there are now four or five countries that have ratified, and we hope the leaders themselves will encourage and call their colleagues to hasten the ratification process,” Imperial said.
At least 19 world leaders will travel to the Philippines for the high-level meetings, including US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
